A fragment of the past life flickered across the screen, casting an air of unease over the audience. The viewers, vast and captivated, watched closely as the exchange between Tony and Pepper played out. Their reactions varied; some laughed, calling Tony for his playful arrogance, while others whispered in curiosity. Yet, unlike these detached, entertainment-seeking spectators, the faces of the Tiandao Authority's senior officers grew increasingly solemn.
If Tony could be persuaded to join their cause, it meant only one thing: the situation had already escalated beyond control. No one could imagine Tony Stark, brilliant, arrogant, and famously cynical, agreeing to get involved unless the stakes were catastrophic.
[ Colson handed Tony a document: "We have something that requires your immediate attention." ]
[ Tony eyed the document with disinterest: "I don't like picking up things." ]
[ Pepper snatched the file from Coulson, gave him a polite nod, and passed it to Tony herself. "That's fine," she said coolly. "I like picking things up. Let's trade." ]
[ Tony sighed, accepting the file with theatrical reluctance: "Official consulting hours are between 8:00 and 5:00." ]
[ Coulson shook his head. "This isn't a consultation." ]
[ Pepper narrowed her eyes. "This is about the Avengers Initiative, isn't it?" ]
[ "I don't know anything," Coulson replied evenly. ]
[ Tony muttered as he strolled toward the display table: "The Avengers plan was scrapped, and yet you're still doubting me." ]
[ "I wouldn't know about that," Coulson said flatly. ]
[ Tony smirked bitterly. "Well, I am unpredictable, narcissistic, and not exactly a team player." ]
Their verbal sparring ended as Tony gestured for Pepper to stand beside him. He waved his hand across the digital interface, activating the display.
Suddenly, the holographic projection bloomed across the room, multiple video feeds shimmering in midair. Both Tony and Pepper fell silent, their faces hardening as they watched.
Within the footage, symbols of immense power flashed: a shield emblazoned with a star, a colossal green behemoth smashing through steel, and glimpses of a storm's fury crackling like divine judgment. Each recording was a window into forces beyond comprehension.
[ Pepper's voice was steady but grim. "I'm flying out tonight." ]
[ Tony nudged her playfully, trying to lighten the mood. "Make it tomorrow." ]
[ Her lips pressed into a thin line. "You've got work to do, Tony. Finish it." ]
[ Colson and Pepper exited quietly, leaving Tony alone with the projections. ]
[ Tony reached for the holographic model of the Cosmic Cube, his fingers hesitating in the air as his mind raced. ]
"He's really joining them?" someone whispered over the broadcast.
"He has, but why do I feel more uneasy than reassured?" another voice said.
"That thing in the footage… the green monster… It's terrifying."
"Even Tony Stark looks rattled. That alone says everything."
"I don't get it. He takes things from Pepper but never from anyone else."
"Remember when he bought strawberries? Same thing. He just took the bag and set it on his seat. Classic Stark."
"This past life is stylish but full of quirks."
"Think he's uncovered something big?"
"Every time I see tech like that, I get envious all over again."
"The wealthy rely on genius and tech; the rest of us rely on evolution, or mutation."
Inside the Administration headquarters, tension hung thick in the air.
The director and senior officers scrutinized every frame of Tony's footage.
"Did you catch that? A shield… ice… the green giant?"
"Could those be S.H.I.E.L.D. assets?"
"The frozen man, could that be Rogers, preserved in ice decades ago?"
"And giants… are you telling me Terra's history held giants? Impossible!"
"With Thor and this creature on their side, Earth's defenses just skyrocketed," a strategist murmured.
Historian Johan scribbled furiously, his excitement palpable. Even Tonio, usually stoic, was animated. The revelations shattered their perception of the Earth Age, revealing a far more complex history than the archives had ever hinted.
The chief's phone rang, jolting him from his thoughts, "Elder, yes… understood."
Moments later, he ended the call, his expression unreadable. The Elder's instructions were clear: mobilize, prepare select individuals for specialized training, and form an elite strike team rivaling S.H.I.E.L.D.'s operatives.
"Everything's already in motion," the chief muttered with relief.
The Supreme Court's influence stretched over centuries; its power had ensured Terra's stability for generations. Yet even that authority trembled before what was coming. He stepped out of his office, his thoughts racing. Plans had been drafted months ago, but political hesitations and fear of gossip delayed action. Now, hesitation was no longer an option.
"Elenora, Aldice…" he whispered, reviewing the names of those chosen. "They're all prodigies. And when we finally find him, the one we've sought… he'll lead them."
[ Deep below, in a labyrinthine facility, engineers hustled between glowing terminals as Dr. Eric fine-tuned the equipment. The hum of alien energy filled the air. Loki reclined casually, scepter in hand, as the room's atmosphere rippled and warped. A towering, armored figure materialized in a shimmer of light. ]
[ "The Chitauri grow restless," the creature growled. ]
[ Loki smiled faintly. "Patience. Let me lead them into glory." ]
[ "War?" the creature sneered. "Against ants?" ]
[ Loki's grin sharpened. "Glory isn't difficult when your army is as unstoppable as you claim." ]
[ "Are you questioning us? Him? The one who granted you power when Asgard cast you out?" the creature snapped. ]
[Loki's voice was calm, yet laced with venom. "I was born a king. The throne of Asgard was mine, until betrayal stripped it from me." ]
[ "Your ambitions are small," the creature said coldly. "We seek dominion beyond this planet. The Cube will open the path to greater worlds." ]
[ Loki chuckled darkly. "You speak of treasures you don't yet hold." ]
[ The creature vanished and reappeared before Loki, claws extended. Loki raised his scepter, voice low and dangerous: "You cannot threaten me. Without my hand to open the portal, your army is nothing more than a promise." ]
[ "Go to war, Asgardian," the creature hissed. "If you lose, if the Cube falls elsewhere, no corner of the universe will hide you. He will find you. You think you know pain? He will redefine it." ]
The broadcast shifted, yet this chilling exchange was far from over. In the chat, chaos erupted, outrage, panic, and disbelief spilled across the scrolling feed, while major news outlets raced to condemn what they saw as a prelude to interstellar war.